Tumor necrosis factors

Citation

Goetz FW, Planas JV & MacKenzie S (2004) Tumor necrosis factors. Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 28 (5), pp. 487-497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2003.09.008

Abstract
Since the discovery of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin, many structurally related factors have been elucidated in mammals that are grouped together in the TNF Ligand Superfamily. These factors have profound pleiotropic roles involving inflammation, apoptosis, cell proliferation and stimulation of the immune system. TNF has only been isolated from mammals and fish. While two TNFs (α and β) are present in mammals, it appears that only one form of TNF is found in fish that is more similar in structure and genomic organization to mammalian TNFα. TNF transcripts are expressed in both mammals and fish with similar kinetics, and the involvement of NF-κB in TNF expression in fish suggests that transcriptional regulation may be similar within vertebrates. Mammalian TNFα stimulates macrophage activity in fish and birds, and in both groups of vertebrates, macrophage-derived supernatants have been shown to contain TNF-like activities, suggesting the presence of bioactive native TNFα.

Keywords
Tumor necrosis factors; TNF ligand superfamily; Cytokines; Lymphotoxin; Macrophages

Journal
Developmental and Comparative Immunology: Volume 28, Issue 5